The Maharashtra government has extended Rs 50 lakh insurance cover to private doctors who die of coronavirus infection during the pandemic.  In a circular issued yesterday, director of state Health Services, Dr. Sadhana Tayde said the insurance cover, which is being given to doctors in government and semi- government services, has now been extended to private medical practitioners who succumb to the infection.<br />''<br />''Referring to a letter dated April 9 about the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package – Insurance Scheme for health workers fighting COVID-19, she said the provisions of the same may be followed for private doctors as well.<br />''<br />''Welcoming the move, president of the Indian Medical Association's Thane chapter Dr. Santosh Kadam said it had been a long-standing demand to extend the insurance cover to private doctors.<br />''<br />''Meanwhile, at least 303 personnel of the Maharashtra police tested positive for coronavirus, while five died of the infection in the last 24 hours. An official today informed that the latest casualties have taken the death toll in the police force to 136, which includes 14 officers. With 62 deaths, Mumbai police had recorded the highest number of casualties in the force due to the pandemic. Of the 13,180 personnel, 10,655 have recovered from the disease so far.<br />''<span style="color: #222222;"><br />''The official also informed that the police have so far registered 2,31,580 offences for violation of prohibitory orders since the coronavirus-induced lockdown was imposed in March and arrested 33,632 persons. He said at least 335 incidents of assault on police and 69 similar attacks on health professionals have been reported in the state amid the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that 890 persons were arrested in these cases. Whereas more than Rs. 21.76 crore were collected in fines from people who violated prohibitory orders.</span><br />